$50m. U.S. aid for Pak.

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

WASHINGTON, SEPT. 29. Recognising the important contribution of Pakistan in the showdown with the Taliban and Osama bin Laden and stressing that it was ``important to the security interests of the U.S.'', the U.S. President, Mr. George W. Bush, has furnished $50 million to the country under the Foreign Assistance Act.

Separately a Bill has been introduced in the Senate seeking to authorise the sale of military goods and services to India and Pakistan, a move that is seen primarily benefiting Islamabad. The Bill sponsored by Senators, Mr. Sam Brownback and Mr. Mitch McConnel, even includes supply of military goods that would be normally denied to countries under military rule.

It is also said that Congress is seeking to get rid of the so- called democracy sanctions against Pakistan and steps are being taken to change the existing wording that calls for a certification from the President that democracy has been restored to lift the punitive measures. The impression is that the law- makers would be satisfied if the White House makes a certification that ``steps are being taken'' for the restoration of democracy in Pakistan.

What is significant is the extent to which the administration and Congress are willing to go with respect to Islamabad in this fight against terrorism - read Afghanistan and Osama bin Laden.

Congress is getting ready to put together a package of at least $500 million in assistance to Pakistan. This money is supposed to go for educational projects, social programmes and strengthening border security over a period of several years.

The general feeling is that the $500 million is just the beginning and Islamabad may be in for much more if the leadership plays its cards well. The international financial institutions have already started throwing their weight behind Pakistan and the perception here is that Islamabad may be actually looking for ways to ``take care'' of its nearly $40 billion in debt.

At the time of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, the Carter administration came up with an initial assistance package of $400 million to Pakistan. The then Pakistani President, Zia-ul-Haq, dismissed the package as ``peanuts'' and Washington came up with a more elaborate scheme that provided nearly $3.5 billion.

In the present scheme of things, the Bush administration has made no bones about the fact that countries lined with the U.S. in the fight against terrorism have a lot to gain. The administration will soon be going before Congress for a substantial `rewards' package intended to be disbursed to countries backing the U.S.

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Section  : International
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